Story by Kayla Denson / Features Editor
In August 2012, a 16-year-old girl was undressed, photographed, and allegedly sexually assaulted in Steubenville, Ohio by two members of the town’s high school football team. This resulted in the town’s fury towards the victim and a not so severe punishment for the two players.
In addition, adults, including coaches, teachers and parents, covered up for the boys.
Similar to this case, a 13-year-old girl in Missouri was allegedly raped in October of this year by a senior star of the Maryville High School football team and it was recorded on the iPhone of a senior standout wrestler.
Not only were the most serious charges of sexual assault dropped without explanation but the victim and her family were persecuted by the town. They were harassed and their house was burned down.
Both of these towns blamed the girls for being so drunk from all the alcohol that the boys gave them and held them completely responsible for being sexually assaulted.
In Steubenville, the two boys were convicted of rape receiving minimum sentences of a year and two years.
No charges have been filed in the Maryville case.
“I am absolutely horrified that student athletes would do this,” Bishop Amat teacher Cathy Fitzsimons said. “These boys are definitely guilty and they should’ve known better. The girls were responsible for being drunk. But being drunk is not an open invitation for others to violate you.”
The fact that the accused were protected obviously relates to their status as athletes.
“Because they were athletes everyone was ready to point out the mistakes of others instead of holding the kids accountable,” said Fitzsimons.
Does our culture view the high school “star” athlete as superior to others, therefore making exceptions and bending the rules for them?
“This tells us exactly how society sees athletes,” senior Shaianne Fields said. “It teaches students that it doesn’t matter what you do, how great your grades or personality are as long as you’re a good athlete.”
There are various cases such as these that will make you question the integrity of others and even the justice within schools or small communities. It can be considered human nature to cater to athletes and put them before others and in some cases even above the law.
“Certain students are definitely above the rules and its because the adults we put in charge don’t judge fairly or treat others equally,” head track coach Daniel Lodolo said. “We see this absolutely everywhere, we see it here at Amat, and frankly it’s human nature.”
Even when dealing with serious situations such as rape or sexual harassment, why is it that members of society can justify the actions of athletes solely because they are good at their sport? Why are the rights of a young girl taken advantage of less important than a boy’s right to play football?
“Society has always valued their warriors,” Lodolo said. “They will grant them privileges, rewards, and immunities that they would never give to others.”
